How Did the Egyptians Perform Magic Turning Sticks into Snakes?by Rich Deem

Introduction

What about all the magic in the Bible? Most of these things just don't
seem possible. How did Moses turn his staff into a snake? Even if Moses
produced this magic by the power of God, how did the Egyptians do likewise?

Sticks and snakes

When God was ready to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt, He
told Moses to perform a miracle before Pharaoh to try to convince him to let
His people go. Here is the description of the events from the Old Testament
book of Exodus:

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "When Pharaoh says
to you, 'Perform a miracle,' then say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw
it down before Pharaoh,' and it will become a snake." So Moses and Aaron
went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff
down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh
then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did
the same things by their secret arts. (Exodus 7:8-11)

It is pretty clear from the description that Moses was just following
directions and was not directly involved in transforming a stick into a
snake.

Is magic possible?

True magic (not just sleight-of-hand) is impossible for human beings to
perform. However, spiritual beings who exist in extra dimensions can
easily perform acts that are impossible for those confined to our four
space-time dimensions. According to the Bible, the beings capable of such feats are God and the
angels. In the Bible, the feats themselves are called "miracles" or
"signs." Since God told Moses to throw the stick, we assume
that He was the one who actually performed the miracle and not Moses.

What about the Egyptians?

Although it is clear that God performed the miracle for Moses, how were
the Egyptians able to perform those same signs? It seems unlikely that
God would cause the Egyptians to perform the same miracle. However, the
Bible clearly indicates that angels (both good and bad) are able to
perform miracles and signs.1 Presumably,
the demons (fallen angels) or Satan himself (another fallen angel)
performed the miracle for the Egyptians. So, it
would seem likely that the miracles of the Egyptians were real, not performed by the power of God, but by the power of demons. The
demons would not want the Israelites to leave Egypt, since this was one
of God's continuing prophecies,2 which
would eventually culminate in the coming of
Messiah. By encouraging
Pharaoh to oppose the Israelites, the demons thought they could possibly
thwart God's plans. It would not be the last time the demons would
attempt to block God's plans. Satan himself (the ruler of the demons)
entered Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin (the ruling
Jewish leaders), eventually resulting in His crucifixion.

Conclusion

Even though performed by "magicians," the "magic" found in the Bible are
really miraculous signs performed by the power of God or angels. Although
the Egyptians performed the same miracles, they did so most likely through
the power of demons (fallen angels).

Related Pages

References

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of
Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and
wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs
and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. (Matthew
24:24)

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub,
the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." (Matthew
12:24)

They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out
to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the
great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:14)

Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like
a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of
the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants
worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he
performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down
from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was
given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the
inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of
the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. (Revelation
13:11-14)

But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had
performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had
deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his
image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning
sulfur. (Revelation 19:20)

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this
land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
(Genesis 12:7)
"Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you [Isaac] and will bless
you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and
will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham." (Genesis 26:3)
There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of
your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you [Jacob] and
your descendants the land on which you are lying." (Genesis 28:13)
"'And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to
Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I
am the LORD.'" (Exodus 6:8)

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. (Luke
22:3)

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